Speaker assembly



Dec. 28, 1965 c. R. FOX

SPEAKER ASSEMBLY Filed July 20, 1964 INVENTOR C'HARLES R. FOX

I 1 1mm ATTORN EY Unit This invention relates generally to loud-speakers, and is especially concerned with new and improved speakermounting constructions.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a unique speaker construction which is capable of being mounted with a minimum of effort and skill, requiring considerably less space than heretofore necessary, and capable of being mounted on an external wall surface having access from one side only.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a speaker construction of the type described which is extremely attractive in appearance, eliminating the requirement of exposed fasteners or other mounting hardware, while permitting of quick and easy access to the various components for repair and replacement, if required.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a speaker construction which permits of mounting on a wall surface accessible from one side only and achieving a substantially flush speaker-grille effect, all of which is adapted to be accomplished by persons of only average skill and without the use of special tools.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a unique container for combination with a speaker construction of the present invention, which container is adapted to contain the speaker assembly in distribution, storage, and in sale to the ultimate consumer, as well as to provide a point-of-purchase display for the speaker assembly and afford a highly effective baffle or speaker enclosure for use by the ultimate purchaser, if desired.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a highly improved speaker construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple in structure, durable and entirely reliable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing a speaker assembly of the present invention in combination with a container therefor modified to provide a speaker baffle.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the combination of FIGURE 1, with one end of the baffle partially open in phantom.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational View showing a speaker assembly of the present invention as mounted on a wall, but with the cover removed to expose the interior construction.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through a speaker-cover element or bezel.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through a speaker-covering element or sheet.

d States Pater 3,225,856 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the speakermounting ring.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through the assembled speaker unit.

FIGURE 7a is an enlarged sectional view of the encircled section 7a shown on FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken through a slightly modified assembled speaker unit and showing the unit mounted on a wall.

FIGURE 8a is an enlarged sectional View of the encircled section 8a shown on FIGURE 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, a speaker assembly of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and illustrated as mounted on a container or carton 11.

More specifically, the speaker assembly 10 is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 7 as including a generally annular mounting ring 13 receiving a speaker basket 14 carrying centrally thereof a conventional magnet 15. A covering 16 is engaged about the mounting ring 13 extending over the latter and the basket 14.

In FIGURE 6, the mounting ring 13 is shown in greater detail as including an annular, generally flat portion or annulus 18 having its outer circumferential margin depressed, as at 19, to define a downwardly offset bead. From the radially outer side of the depressed portion or head 19, and outstanding therefrom beyond the plane of annulus i8 is a flange 20 of generally cylindrical configuration. Thus, the flange 20 extends circumferentially about the outer side of the annulus 18 having the depressed outer margin 19, and projects forwardly therefrom terminating in a generally circular forward edge 21 lying in a plane generally parallel to and spaced outward from annulus 18. The flange 20 may be provided with any suitable securing elements, such as the outwardly upset projections or detents 22, for a purpose appearing presently.

The covering means 16 may include a generally annular cover ring 24, best seen in FIGURE 4, including a generally cylindrical side portion or wall 25 terminating in a generally circular, rear or inner edge 26 and having on its forward edge an inturned peripheral lip or bezel 27 extending circumferentially about and inward of the ring side portion 25.

A covering sheet or grille 28, say of perforate or reticulate sheet material may be of generally circularoutline configuration and engageable in the cover ring 24 with the circumferential margin 29 extending beneath the bezel 27 to the side ring wall 25. Centrally of the margin 29 the covering sheet may be upset outwardly, as by an annular offsetting portion 3t if desired.

The speaker basket 14, as seen in FIGURE 3, at its outer or larger end, may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially outward extensions 32. The extensions 32 are generally coplanar with each other, normal to the axis of basket 14 and advantageously equally spaced about the larger end of the basket. The extensions 32 are connected together by circumferentially extending connecting portions 33 of less radial extent.

The extensions 32 may each be provided with a through, fastener-receiving opening; and, the mounting ring 13 may advantageously be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced fastener elements or screws 35 fixed to and extending outward from the annulus 18. The fasteners 35 (see FIGURES 6 and '7), may extend outward through the annulus 18, spaced inward from the flange 20, and respectively engageable through extensions 32 when the basket 14 is engaged rearward through the mounting ring 13. Nuts 36, or other suitable fastener elements may be engaged with fasteners 35 to secure the basket 14 within the mounting ring 13.

The assembled unit of FIGURE 7 further illustrates the covering sheet 28 extending across and entirely over the mounting ring 13 and its received basket 14, with the cover ring 24 engaged about the mounting ring and having its bezel or lip 27 overlying the cover sheet margin 29. The side wall or portion 25 of the cover ring 24 may frictionally engage with the protuberances 22 for firm, but detachable securement to the mounting ring.

In practice (see FIGURE 7), a Wall, or other support, 4% is provided with an opening 41 substantially the size of the internal diameter of annulus 18. The mounting ring 113 is placed with its depressed portion or rearward head 19 against the external surface of wall 49 and secured to the latter by suitable fasteners 42 extending through the annulus 18 into the wall. If the fasteners 42 are of the type requiring access to the interior of the wall 46, this may be readily obtained by inserting a hand through the opening 41.

With the mounting ring 13 secured in place on the wall 40, the basket 14 may be inserted into the wall opening 41 with its extensions 32 overlying the annulus 18 of the mounting ring and receiving the fasteners 35, after which the fastener elements 36 may be engaged with their mating elements 35 to fasten the basket in position. The extensions 32 are each spaced intermediate an adjacent pair of fasteners 42. The covering 16, including both the covering sheet 28 and cover ring 24 may, as a unit, be snap-engaged in covering relation about the mounting ring 13 and extending over the basket 14. The covering-sheet margin 29 thus extends radially outward between the bezel 2'7 and outer edge 21 of mounting-ring flange 20, and may, if desired, engage the ends of fasteners 35.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, the speaker assembly it} is illustrated as mounted in its operative posi tion on the front wall 43 of a generally rectangular, hexahedral container 11. That is, the container 11 includes relatively large, generally rectangular, parallel spaced front and back walls 43 and 44. The front wall may be provided with a line of weakening or severance line of generally circular configuration corresponding in size to the internal diameter of mounting ring 13. This facilitates removal of the severan-ce-line-bounded-portion of container front wall 43 and enables the speaker assembly to be mounted on the front wall 43 in the same manner as described hereinbefore on the wall 40. The container or carton 11 thus provides a speaker enclosure or baflie, and the rear or back container wall 44 may be formed with keyhole slots or openings 45 for suspending the container, as by wall hooks, or the like. In this manner, the container 11 may serve as a housing or baffle for the speaker It) when in use, permitting of quick and easy repositioning of the speaker, and the container may be suitably decorated to present the appearance of an article of furniture.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 8, the covering sheet 28a, corresponding to the covering sheet 28 of the firstdescribed embodiment, has its peripheral margin 29a configured for close conforming engagement with the under or inner side of bezel 27. This embodiment further illustrates the use of anchors 47 in wall 40a receiving mount ing-ring fasteners 42a. Also, in the embodiment of FIG- URE 8, the cone 1411 may be provided with a combination circumferential extension and mounting ring 32a, and the cylindrical flange or ring 20 may extend upwardly or outwardly from the periphery of the ring 32a circum- 5 ferentially thereabout. Thus, the basket 14a, its circumferential ring 3211 and generally cylindrical ring or flange 4 20a may all be produced as a unit and secured to a wall 40:: by the fasteners 42a extending through the ring 32:: into the wall. The covering sheet 28a extends entirely across the basket 14a resting on the edge of mounting ring or flange 13a and is secured in such position by the cover ring 24a.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a speaker construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, distribution, display and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a support wall which has a blind opening therein, of a speaker assembly comprising a mounting ring adapted to be secured in engagement with the wall extending about said opening, a speaker basket disposed within said wall opening, extension means on said basket and secured to said ring to mount said basket in said wall opening, flange means on said mounting ring projecting away from said wall, and cover means extending across said mounting ring and removably secured to said flange means.

2. A speaker assembly according to claim 1, said extension means projecting generally radially from said basket at circumferentially spaced locations thereabout and overlying said ring for securement thereto at circumferentially spaced locations about said ring.

3. A speaker according to claim 2, in combination with securing means for securing said ring to said wall at additional locations intermediate said first-mentioned locations.

4. A speaker assembly according to claim 1, said flange means comprising a circumferential flange about said mounting ring, and said cover means comprising a mating circumferential flange for snap engagement about said first-mentioned flange.

5. A speaker assembly according to claim 1, said cover means comprising a cover ring detachably engageable about said mounting ring, and a cover sheet extending across said cover ring and over said basket.

6. A speaker assembly according to claim 5, said cover ring com-prising a peripheral lip extending radially inward over said flange means, and said cover sheet extending between said flange means and lip.

7. A speaker assembly according to claim 6, said cover sheet having its peripheral margin conformably engaging the underside of said lip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,877,085 9/193'2 Trefry l8l3l 1,960,449 5/1934 Midgley l8l-3l 2,913,067 11/1959 Johnston l8l3l 3,045,776 7/ 1962 Igarashi l813l FOREIGN PATENTS 663,734 12/1951 Great Britain.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Examiner.

S. J. TOMSKY, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 22 5,860 December 28, 1965 Charles R: Fox

error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that t the said Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and the corrected below.

and in the heading to the for "Metro Electronics Metra Electronics In the grant, lines 2 and 12 printed specification, lines 3 and 4, Corporation" each occurrence read Corporation I Signed and sealed this 26th day of July 1966:

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWTDER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A SUPPORT WALL WHICH HAS A BLIND OPENING THEREIN, OF SPEAKER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MOUNTING RING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WALL EXTENDING ABOUT SAID OPENING, A SPEAKER BASKET DISPOSED WITHIN SAID WALL OPENING, EXTENSION MEANS ON SAID BASKET AND SECURED TO SAID RING TO MOUNT SAID BASKET IN SAID WALL OPENING, FLANGE MEANS ON SAID MOUNTING RING PROJECTING AWAY FROM SAID WALL, SAND COVER MEANS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID MOUNTING RING AND REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID FLANGE MEANS. 